Fruit-packing stand.



A. B. HUMPHREY.

FRUIT PACKING STAND. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 15 1911.

Pzitented Nov. 28, 1911.

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R m H M w -,4rronusrs A. B. HUMPHREY. FRUIT PACKING STAND. I APPIPIGATIOF. FILED AUG. 15 1911. 1,010,262, Patented Nov. 28, 1911;

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WITNESSES INVENTOB 4 ATTORNEYS COLUMBIA FLANDGRAPH co.,wAsl-lmu'r0N, D. c.

ANTHONY BYRID HUMPHREY, OF MAYHEWS, CALIFORNIA.

FRUIT-PACKING STAND.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 15, 1911.

Patented Nov. 28, 1911.

Serial No. 644,160.

' Stand, of which the following is a full, clear,

and exact description.

The object of my invention is to provide a stand to be used in packing small fruits, and more particularly in the packing of grapes, and the particular object is to provide a stand of compact form and arrangement, occupying but little floor space, and having a packing table positioned within convenient reach of the packer, and also having, adjacent to the packing table, a shelf to receive the crate which has been packed, and further, to provide suitable shelves or receptacles to support within convenient reach of the packer the baskets in which the grapes are placed, and the cleats used in separating the tiers of baskets in the crates.

A further object of the invention is to provide a seat for the packer, conveniently located with respect to the packing table, and further, to provide for a yielding, vertical movement of the packing table, and to connect said table to the pointer or gage, so that the downward movement of the table will operate the pointer or gage and thus indicate when the desired quantity of grapes has been packed in the baskets or crates.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both of the views, and in which Figure 1 shows in perspective a packing stand embodying the invention; and Fig. 2 shows a vertical sectional view through the packing table and the vertical stand, and illustrates in dotted lines 'the crate to be packed, supported upon the packing table, and the baskets within which the grapes are packed, and the cleats which are used to separate the tiers of baskets in the crates.

As shown in the drawings, the apparatus comprises a vertical stand or frame A, comprising standards a, which are connected by cross bars a. The cross bars a support the shelves B, B, B the upper shelf B being designed to receive the baskets C and retain them within reach of the packer. The shelf I B receives the cleats 0 used in separating the tiers of baskets in the crates. The standards 41!. preferably project above the shelf B, as shown at o to prevent the baskets from falling off.

The space between the shelves B and B is considerably larger than the space between the shelves B and B, for it is intended to receive and support temporarily a packed crate in position to be conveniently removed by the operator who nails on the cover while the packer continues the packing operation.

At the front of the stand A is the packing table T, comprising the side bars 23 united by cross bars t, and having at its lower end and on its upper surface a stop or cleat t against which the crate E comes to rest, and is thereby prevented from sliding off the inclined surface of the table T. The table T is supported by the vertical standards F,

the inner ones being slightly longer than the outer ones and having their upper ends beveled, as shown at f, corresponding to the inclination of the table T. The standards F at their lower ends are pivotally conneotedat f to radiuslinks f which in turn are pivoted at f to the forwardly-extending horizontal beams G, in such a manner that they insure a vertical movement of the table T without changing its inclination.

.The'table T is pivotally connected at h to the forward ends of levers H which are fulcrumed at it to the relatively long beams H projecting in front of the stand A and eX- tending beyond the table as shown clearly in Fig. 1 of the drawings. At its rear end, one

of the levers H is connected by means of a pivoted link K, to a crank arm K mounted upon the inner end of a shaft K which at its outer end carries a similar crank arm K pivotally connected to a link K and which in turn is pivoted to a lever K pivoted at K to one of the standards a at one side of the stand A. The free end of the lever K is confined by a guard K attached to the outer side of one of the standards a, but is freely movable up and down under the said guard. The levers H are connected at their rear ends by a cross-bar I-I through which passes an adjusting bolt H to which one end of a spring H is connected, the other end of the spring being connected to a pin orrod H The spring H serves to normally pull down the rear ends of the levers H, to hold the table T in an elevated position, but will permit the table to be depressed by the weight of the fruit which is being packed in the crates supported on said table. As the table descends, the rear end of the levers H ascend, and through the link K and the intermediate connections the lever K will be moved upward. The operator places a mark upon the frame of the apparatus, so that the lever K may indicate as its free end registers with said mark, when the desired quantity of fruit has been packed in the crates. Upon the removal of the packed crate, the spring H drawing down upon the rear ends of the levers H, returns the table to its normal, elevated position.

The stand A, below the table at B will be strengthened by transverse braces a The beams G will also preferably be connected at their front ends by cross beams G, and will be provided with vertical posts G to which the beams H will be connected at a point intermediate their ends. At their forward ends, the beams H may be connected by a cross brace M and provided with legs M, which may also be connected by a cross brace M Upon the upper surface of the beams H, a bench or seat N for the packer may be supported, and if desired an open tray O may also find a support upon the beams H adjacent to the bench N.

In operation, the crate E is supported upon the table as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and, assuming that the device is constructed with the bench N, the packer sitsthereon, straddling the forwardly-projecting frame, and taking the grapes to be packed from a table located in convenient position, he places them in the baskets C in the crate E.

The apparatus is shown in the drawings,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

as constructed of wood, but, obviously, it may be constructed of metal, such as light angle iron, and also, the packing table T and its supporting frame may be disposed at right angles to the stand A, and such other changes may be made as may be desired, within the scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent l. A grape-packers stand, comprising a vertical frame, a shelf thereon for baskets, a shelf for the cleats, a shelf for the packed crate, and an inclined vertically movable table in front of the stand and connected thereto, to'support the crate and baskets while being packed.

2. A grape-packers stand, comprising a vertical frame, a shelf thereon for a packed crate, an inclined, vertically movable table located in front of the stand, pivoted levers supporting said table, a spring acting upon.

said levers to normally raise the table, a pointer or indicator, and connecting devices whereby said pointer or indicator is operated by the movements of the table.

3. A grape-packers stand, comprising a vertical frame, a shelf thereon for a packed crate, an inclined, vertically movable table located in front of the stand and connected thereto, a pointer or indicator operated by said table, and a seat for the packer, adjacent to the table.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ANTHONY BYRD HUMPHRE Y.

Witnesses:

OHAUNCEY H. DUNN, MAY E. DUNSTON.

Washington, ll). G. 

